The New York Giants should steer clear of this player in the NFL Draft.
In a perfect world, the New York Giants would be able to trade down in the 2026 NFL Draft and accumulate a bunch of draft capital to fill out the roster.
However, with the Giants falling to No. 5 overall in the draft order, the chances of that occurring have declined significantly.
In theory, New York could still move down, especially if a player like Ohio State's Arvell Reese falls to the fifth pick. But let's say the Giants have to make their pick at No. 5.
Are there any players Big Blue should avoid?
Well, there is one Big Ten star suddenly becoming a rather popular choice in mock drafts of whom New York should steer clear: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Let me start by saying that this isn't an indictment on Downs as a player. He is a two-time All American for a reason, and he even finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting this year.
But the Giants have far bigger needs than the safety position, and unless you are 99.9 percent sure that the safety you are selecting is going to be a Hall-of-Famer, you should never take one within the top five picks of the draft.
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs. Credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.It's true that New York needs help at safety. Jevon Holland was a major disappointment in 2025, and Tyler Nubin does not look like a legitimate starter. But you know where else the Giants have a significant need in their secondary? At a far more premium position: cornerback.
Not only that, but New York has a glaring hole at defensive tackle, and it also must consider drafting a wide receiver or an offensive lineman.
Safety should be very far down the Giants' priority list, and there are usually always good safeties available throughout the draft, anyway.
Now, if New York is able to trade down from No. 5, pick up an extra first-rounder and Downs is still there in the middle of the opening round? Then that changes things. But even then, I'm not so sure that spending a Day 1 pick on a safety is the best idea.
Right now, the Giants should really only be considering a few players with the fifth overall selection, Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods and Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate — especially if Malik Nabers is compromised — being chief among them.
Downs should not be on New York's radar as far as its top draft choice is concerned.